The Marine Corps has announced the Academic Year (AY) 2027-28 Reserve Officer PME (RPME) board, convening 14 September 2026. This board selects RC officers across all components (SMCR, IMA, IRR, and AR) for funded resident and distance PME seats at senior, intermediate, and career-level schools. The questionnaire opened when this message was released, so the window is live now.
Do this: Submit your RPME questionnaire at
https://www2.manpower.usmc.mil/application_cac/before 28 August 2026.
Who it affects
RC officers across all competitive categories: SMCR, IMA, IRR, and AR. The specific grade requirements depend on the school level:
- Senior Level College (SLC): LtCol or LtCol (sel)
- Intermediate Level College (ILC): Maj or Maj (sel)
- Career Level School (CLS): Capt or Capt (sel)
- Top-Level School Equivalency / Distance programs: LtCol (sel) through Col
- Reserve Senior Staff Course (RSSC): LtCol (sel) through Col (SMCR/IMA/IRR only, not AR)
You are not eligible if any of these apply to you:
- You are in command and cannot complete a 24-month obligation before the course convenes
- You are in-zone or above-zone for the next scheduled promotion board (Colonels excepted)
- You already completed a grade-equivalent resident funded FLS and are applying to the same level again
- You were previously selected for a distance education program (DEP) and are applying to another DEP
- You have an approved retirement, resignation, pending conditional release, or an approved RAD application
- You are approved for continuation beyond your mandatory removal/retirement date
- AR-specific: career-designated AR officers with a Date Current Tour Began (DCTB) on or after 1 October 2025; AR officers on an accession tour with a DCTB on or after 1 October 2024
What you need to do
- Log in to the RPME application portal using your MRA Manpower Information Portal (MIP) account at
https://www2.manpower.usmc.mil/application_cac/. CAC is not required to access the site. - Complete and submit the RPME questionnaire before 28 August 2026.
- Ensure your record and supporting materials are updated by 28 August 2026.
- If selected, be prepared to sign a Statement of Understanding (SOU) accepting a 24-month service obligation tied to your projected graduation date.
If you do not have an MRA MIP account, the MARADMIN notes you will get a "404 access error." Contact your S-1 or one of the POCs below to resolve that before the deadline.
Available schools include:
| Level | School | Location | Grades | JPME | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SLC | Marine Corps War College (MCWAR) | Quantico, VA | LtCol/LtCol (sel) | JPME-II | Resident, ~10 months |
| SLC | College of Naval Warfare (CNW) | Newport, RI | LtCol/LtCol (sel) | JPME-II | Resident, ~10 months |
| SLC | U.S. Army War College (USAWC) | Carlisle Barracks, PA | LtCol/LtCol (sel) | JPME-II | Resident, ~10 months |
| SLC | Air War College (AWC) | Maxwell AFB, AL | LtCol/LtCol (sel) | JPME-II | Resident, ~10 months |
| SLC | National War College (NWC) | Fort McNair, DC | LtCol/LtCol (sel) | JPME-II | Resident, ~10 months |
| SLC | Eisenhower School (ESNSRS) | Fort McNair, DC | LtCol/LtCol (sel) | JPME-II | Resident, ~10 months |
| SLC | College of Information and Cyberspace (CIC) | Fort McNair, DC | LtCol/LtCol (sel) | JPME-II | Resident, ~10 months |
| ILC | Marine Corps Command and Staff College (MCCSC) | Quantico, VA | Maj/Maj (sel) | JPME-I | Resident, ~10 months |
| ILC | College of Naval Command and Staff (CNCS) | Newport, RI | Maj/Maj (sel) | JPME-I | Resident, ~10 months |
| ILC | Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC) | Fort Leavenworth, KS | Maj/Maj (sel) | JPME-I | Resident, ~10 months |
| ILC | Air Command and Staff College (ACAS) | Maxwell AFB, AL | Maj/Maj (sel) | JPME-I | Resident, ~10 months |
| CLS | Marine Corps Expeditionary Warfare School (MCEWS) | Quantico, VA | Capt/Capt (sel) | None | Resident, ~10 months |
| DEP | USAWC Distance Education Program (USAWCDEP) | Carlisle Barracks, PA | LtCol (sel)-Col | JPME-I | 2-year distance + 3 weeks resident |
| DEP | Joint and Combined Warfighting School-Hybrid (JCWS-H) | Norfolk, VA | LtCol (sel)-Col | JPME-II | 40-week hybrid |
| STC | Reserve Senior Staff Course (RSSC) | Quantico, VA | LtCol (sel)-Col | None | 2-week resident (SMCR/IMA/IRR only) |
Officers who complete a resident full-length school may be offered a 12-month Professional Development Tour (PDT) afterward. Details will come with the results MARADMIN.
Service obligations: Accepting a resident PME seat incurs a 24-month obligation, tracked by establishing or extending your Mandatory Drill Participation Stop Date (MDPSD). AR officers attending ILC or SLC also incur a separate 24-month obligation within the AR program that cannot be waived, including for RAD requests.
Key dates
- Now: RPME questionnaire open
- 28 August 2026: Questionnaire and record update deadline
- 14 September 2026: RPME board convenes
- October 2026 (TBD): Results released
- November 2026 (TBD): Declinations and deferrals due
- July 2027: Most resident programs report (approximate)
The official version
This is MARADMIN 229/26.
References include MCO 1553.4B (PME policy), MCO 1001R.1L CH 2 (MCRAMM), and MCO 1900.16 CH 3 (Separation and Retirement Manual).
POC for questions:
- Maj David Kraft, RAM-3:
david.kraft@usmc.mil, 703-784-1275 - MSgt Gregory Bogaczyk, RAM-3:
gregory.bogaczyk@usmc.mil, 703-784-1231 - MSgt George Tisnado, RAM-3:
george.tisnado@usmc.mil, 703-784-1231 - General RPME inbox:
rpme@usmc.mil
This is written by a reservist, for reservists. It is not an official publication of HQMC or MARFORRES. Always verify guidance with your command or unit S-1 before acting on any article or summary.